Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Hehadpulledhimselfuptohisfeet,hewaslookingindifferentlyattheblackholeopenuponmilesofuninhabitedwildernesswherenoonewouldseethebodyorhearthevoiceofamangledman,buttheonlygestureofconcernhemadewastotightenhisgriponasmall,dirtybundle,asiftomakesurehewouldnotloseitinleapingoffthetrain.
Itwasthelaunderedcollarandthisgestureforthelastofhispossessions—thegestureofasenseofproperty—thatmadeherfeelanemotionlikeasudden,burningtwistwithinher."Wait,"shesaid.
Thetwomenturnedtoher.
"Lethimbemyguest,"shesaidtotheconductor,andheldherdooropenforthetramp,ordering,"Comein."
Thetrampfollowedher,obeyingasblanklyashehadbeenabouttoobeytheconductor.
Hestoodinthemiddleofhercar,holdinghisbundle,lookingaroundhimwiththesameobservant,unreactingglance.
"Sitdown,"shesaid.
Heobeyed—andlookedather,asifwaitingforfurtherorders.
Therewasakindofdignityinhismanner,thehonestyoftheopenadmissionthathehadnoclaimtomake,nopleatooffer,noquestionstoask,thathenowhadtoacceptwhateverwasdonetohimandwasreadytoacceptit.
Heseemedtobeinhisearlyfifties;thestructureofhisbonesandtheloosenessofhissuitsuggestedthathehadoncebeenmuscular.
